Dolph didn’t budge. “No one looks mean when they’re trying to trick you,” he said, his eyes locked on Zohar. “An evil alien isn’t going to announce they’re here to take over the world.”
“Well…” Juno looked like he wanted to argue, but then he said, “Yeah, I guess you’re right. Ok…” he agreed, but he dragged his feet and looked over his shoulder as he moved to leave.
Zohar dropped to the floor of the sphere with a groan, slumping forward until his knees were drawn up under his chin and his arms dangled over them. “This is exactly what Phoenix warned us about,” he muttered.
His dragon was not being helpful.
Told you. Should have stayed home. Should have waited.
Now you decide to be wise? Zohar grumbled mentally.
You don’t listen. You never listen. You charge in like a big tail with tiny wings.
“I don’t charge in,” Zohar hissed under his breath.
You do. No thinking. Always acting. Always flapping. If you want to be king one day, you must think. Thinking first is good.
“Well, I‘m thinking now,” he mumbled, glowering at the floor.
“Who are you talking to?” Dolph’s voice was wary, suspicious.
Zohar sighed and lifted his head. “My dragon,” he said flatly. “He’s not impressed with me lately.”
Juno’s head popped back into the room from the doorframe. “You talk to your dragon, and it talks back to you?”
“I thought you were leaving!” Dolph accused Juno.
“I was, but then I thought I shouldn’t leave you alone with him, and now I want to know about the dragon who secretly talks to Zohar!”
“More like argues,” Zohar admitted ruefully. “He’s not exactly… quiet. Especially when I screw things up. I’m supposed to never screw up, you know? I’ll be king one day—if I can get back home and if I don’t get myself killed or imprisoned forever before then. I’m just glad my symbiot isn’t here.” He leaned his head on his hand. “It would be twice as bad. I hate it when they gang up on me.”
Dolph frowned. “You’re a prince?”
Zohar hesitated, then nodded. “Yeah. You’ve got yourself a royal prisoner. Congratulations.” He looked down at his knees.
The air in the room shifted.
Dolph’s arms slowly lowered. The glow in his eyes faded.
“I know what that feels like,” he said, his voice unexpectedly understanding.
Zohar lifted his gaze.
Dolph crossed the floor and stood just outside the sphere. “I’m supposed to be Sea King one day,” he said. “Everyone expects it. They all think I’ll be ready. That I’ll just… grow into it.”
He met Zohar’s eyes.
“But most days? I feel like I’m still a kid just trying to keep my little brother from setting the curtains on fire.”
“Hey, I didn’t set the curtains on fire. That was Stone and DJ. I put it out,” Juno protested.
“Same,” Zohar muttered with a wry grin. “Only it’s usually me and my cousins getting into trouble. We’re pretty good at doing that.”
Dolph stared at him for a long beat. Then, slowly, he waved his hand.
The water holding Zohar suspended vaporized into a mist, leaving him sitting on the cold stone floor. He blinked up at Dolph.
“Thanks,” he said quietly, offering the other boy a crooked smile.
